Industry Sector - Agriculture

EconSearch has undertaken a broad range of projects across all mainstream agricultural industries in Australia. These studies have involved irrigated and dryland agricultural industries, cropping and livestock industries and intensive horticulture and extensive broadacre agricultural industries.

Several studies have involved an economic analysis of threats to agricultural industries. These have included the economic consequences of a phylloxera outbreak on grape growers, the economic benefits arising from maintaining the wild dog fence in Queensland and South Australian pastoral districts, and the impact of drought in the irrigation communities of the Riverland and lower River Murray.

Other studies have considered the return on public investment in agricultural infrastructure, such as irrigation system rehabilitation, and research and development, including investment analyses for the beef, pork, grains, grape and wine industries.

Latest News

IELab Conference 2017

26 November 2017: EconSearch economists Nick Angelakis and Anders Magnusson recently participated in the IELab Conference 2017 in Queensland. The conference showcased the diverse applications of IELab (Industrial Ecology Virtual Laboratory) and provided opportunities for new collaborations and methodology developments. EconSearch has supported the development of IE Lab since its inception. Continued participation in the community allows EconSearch to contribute to the improvement of regional economic analysis in Australia and allows timely access to the bespoke regional economic models.

Circular Economy Conference and Academic Symposium

17 November 2017: EconSearch economist Heather Bailey recently gave a presentation to the Powering the Change to a Circular Economy conference and academic symposium. On November 15-17 in Adelaide, South Australia, business, government and academia came together to collaborate and discuss how the circular economy can be, and is being, implemented. Heather presented a paper about the study EconSearch undertook, in collaboration with LifeCycles, Colby Industries and the University of Queensland, for the South Australian Government on the potential benefits of a circular economy in South Australia.

Northern Adelaide Irrigation Scheme

17 August 2017: Funding has been secured through the National Water Infrastructure Development Fund (NWIDF) for the Northern Adelaide Irrigation Scheme (NAIS), which adds to $110 million committed by the State Government earlier this year. SA Water and PIRSA have partnered to develop the project. To deliver the additional recycled water (20GL), upgrades are required to the Bolivar Wastewater Treatment Plant, as well as a new pipe network north of the Gawler River. EconSearch assisted this successful bid by providing a cost benefit analysis and an estimation of the economic impact of the proposed development. Click here for the media release.